Food package, storage and dispensing device



Nov. 14, 1961 a. F. LINDELL 3,008,583

FOOD PACKAGE, STORAGE AND DISPENING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1959 l2 pzriqp; I: tsp-slit; F :1:

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Arm/aver United States Patent 3,008,583 FOOD PACKAGE, STORAGE AND DISPENSING DEVICE Benny F. Lindell, 1889 Pinon Ave., Anderson, Calif. Filed Mar. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 796,440 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-49) This invention relates to a dispensing device, and it particularly relates to a dispensing device for food packages, such as bags of potato chips.

Bags of potato chips are usually displayed in a store on a rack of open wire-work from which the customer may help himself. This method of storage is alright when the bags are sufficiently numerous to fill the rack since in such case, the bags support each other in upright position and the front 'bags are easily accessible to the customer. However, when a number of bags have been removed, the remaining bags are not adequately supported and tend to fall down. This not only results in some breakage of chips but spoils the appearance of the display. In addition, since it is the front bags that are usually removed first, the customer must bend and reach to obtain the bags which remain at the rear of the rack.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a rack adapted to automatically force the packages in fully supported, upright position to the front of the rack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack of the aforesaid type which is simple in construction and easy to use.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved rack, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the present invention, with parts broken away.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the follower used in the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed view, with parts omitted, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a rack, generally designated 10, comprising four supporting rods 12, one at each corner, upper and lower rails 14 and 16 of rectangular shape providing main body frames secured to and embracing the rods 12, and a pair of vertically-spaced rectangular guide and strengthening rails 18 and 20 embracing the rods 12 between the rails 14 and 16 but closer to the bottom rails 16. The upper rail 14 supports an upper shelf member 22 while the lower rail 16 supports a floor or lower shelf member 24. The floor shelf 24 supports the packages, here illustrated as bags of potato chips 26.

For the purpose of resiliently supporting the packages 26, there is provided a follower 28, common to all the rows of packages 26, comprising a rod 30 extending transversely of the rack and provided with a hook portion 32 at each end. These hook portions 32 each are releasably and slidably engaged with a corresponding Patented Nov. 14, 1961 portion of the rectangular guide rail 18. These hook portions 32 are also each connected, below guide rail 18, to one end of a tension coil spring 34, theopposite end of which is connected to the corresponding front supporting rod 12.

The rod 30 is connected to a pair of parallel pusher or follower rods 36, one of which is above and one below the rod 30, by means of vertical tie rods 38 which are secured to the rod 30 and rods 38 by welding, soldering or the like. In addition, at its central portion, the rod 30 is provided with a hook 40 adapted to be releasably engaged with a retaining means on the rear portion of rail 18, such retaining means being here illustrated as an eyelet 42.

It will be noted that there are a plurality of horizontal ly spaced apart vertical tie rods connecting the rods 18 and 20 together at the forward portion of the frame device. These tie rods are similar to the tie rods 38 of the follower, and help provide a forward support for bags pushed thereagainst.

In operation, the follower 28 is pushed back against the tension of the springs 34 and the hook 40 is engaged with the eyelet 42. The bags 26 are then stacked on the floor 24 until they are held firm between the front portion of rail 18 and the follower 28. The hook 40 is then disengaged from eyelet 42. Thereafter, as soon as the front row of bags 26 are removed by a customer, the spring-pressed follower 28 automatically moves the stack of bags further to the front. In this manner, not only are the bags always within easy reach of the customer but they are always supported in a generally upright position between the front portion of rail 18 and the follower 28.

The use of two springs 38, one at each end of the follower, permits smooth resilient tension of the follower 28 without any swinging action such as would be encountered With more centrally-disposed spring means. The positioning of the springs 34 below their respective portions of the rail 18 also prevents fouling of the springs.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of tlr's invention, what is claimed is:

An open wire work frame device for storing and dispensing a plurality of rows of fragile bags of crushable articles consisting of an open wire rectangular rack comprising a rectangular floor, an upright supporting rod at each corner of said floor, a plurality of rectangular rail members mounted on said upright rods, said rail members including at least an upper rail member, a lower rail member, and a pair of intermediate vertically spaced apart rail members, a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical tie rods connecting said pair of intermediate rail members to each other at the forward side portion of said frame device, a common bag follower comprising at least three vertically spaced rods, a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical tie rods securing said vertically spaced horizontal rods together, an eye formed on each end of an intermediate follower rod and looped about opposite side portions of one of said intermediate rail members, and yieldable tension means biased between each eye and said forward side portion of said frame device urging said common follower forwardly against rows of bags placed between said follower and said pair of intermediate 3 V rail members at said forward portion of said frame 1,038,474 device. 1,407,156 1,418,153 References Cfited in the file of this patent 2,111,496

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 551,692 Schmidt Dec. 17, 1895 645,212

Back Sept. 10, 1912 Ingram Feb. 21, 1922 Lorber May 30, 1922 Scriba Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1950 

